Halfway through 2016, the year in movies is looking pretty bright. The major studios haven't yet released their fall-season prestige titles, which means the best may be yet to come. Even if you wanted a Top 10 right this minute, though, you'd get a range of great movies _ from documentaries to kids' films _ and at least three Oscar-worthy performances. Here's that list"
1. "Weiner." Love him or hate him, Anthony Weiner cuts a fascinating figure in this documentary about his disastrous 2013 campaign for New York City mayor. Inexplicably, Weiner almost never closes the doors on the cameras, which means we get to see some of the most unflattering, excruciating and humiliating moments in this politician's life. The unexpected result is that you can't help but admire the guy, even if he is a sext-ual maniac. It's one of the best political documentaries ever made.
2. "Hunt for the Wilderpeople." In this winningly offbeat comedy-drama from New Zealand's Taika Waititi, an overweight foster child named Ricky runs off into the bush, reluctantly chased by his grouchy new uncle, Hector, only to become the subject of a nationwide manhunt. Young newcomer Julian Dennison plays the angry kid with a wounded heart, while Sam Neill delivers one of his finest (and possibly Oscar-worthy) performances as the beleaguered Hector. This is the kind of young adult movie you rarely see anymore: funny, poignant, and never cliched or condescending.
3. "A Bigger Splash." Despite the appeal of Tilda Swinton playing a rock star named Marianne Lane, this excellent film from Luca Guadagnino has gone overlooked. It's a stylish, splintered drama with arresting visuals and a crazy-good, Oscar-caliber Ralph Fiennes as a bisexual rock manager. Dakota Johnson, as an unpleasant piece of jailbait, and Matthias Schoenaerts, as a photographer with a druggy past, round out the cast. Think Godard's "Contempt" with a Rolling Stones soundtrack.
4. "Hello, My Name Is Doris." In this sparkling comedy, Sally Field plays Doris, a reclusive wallflower who falls for John (Max Greenfield), a co-worker nearly half her age. It's a clever fish-out-of-water comedy, in which John's New York friends adopt Doris as a hipster mascot, but director and co-writer Michael Showalter also injects just the right amount of pathos and drama. Mostly this is a star vehicle for Field, who at 69 is as funny and vibrant as ever. Don't be surprised if she mounts an awards campaign come fall.
5. "Maggie's Plan." You might think you've seen this rom-com before: A young woman (Greta Gerwig) decides to have a baby on her own, then falls for a guy. But wait! The guy is a married academic (Ethan Hawke), and it turns out love creates as many problems as it solves. This disarming film from writer-director Rebecca Miller (daughter of the playwright Arthur Miller) works wonderfully as a New Yorky comedy, but the glimmers of insight and unexpected twists make it special.
6. "The Lobster." Colin Farrell plays David, whose wife has just left him. The bigger problem is that David lives in a bizarre dystopia where single people must find a mate within 45 days or be transformed into an animal. The Greek filmmaker Yorgos Lanthimos has created one weird, dark comedy _ Charlie Kaufman might recognize a kindred spirit _ and his outlook can get awfully bleak. But "The Lobster" is also funny, inventive and utterly original. The cast includes Rachel Weisz, Ben Whishaw, John C. Reilly and Lea Seydoux.
7. "Hail, Caesar!" The Coen brothers' latest has been _ no surprise _ polarizing. The story of a movie mogul (Josh Brolin) trying to find a kidnapped movie star (George Clooney), "Hail, Caesar!" struck many viewers as a weak spoof of the Golden Age of Hollywood. Others found it a joyous ode to the movies, driven by dazzling musical numbers (one featuring Channing Tatum) and oddball characters played by charismatic stars (Alden Ehrenreich steals the show as a singing cowboy). It's goofy, giddy fun.
8. "The Witch." In Robert Eggers' creepy mood piece, a Colonial American family living in exile begins to suspect that its eldest daughter is a witch. This isn't your typical horror film: Yes, there's blood and gore, but the real scares come from the vanished infants, crazed animals and other phenomena that plague this isolated Puritan household. Newcomer Anya Taylor-Joy, as the possibly possessed daughter, is mesmerizing, and the unexpected ending will leave you ruminating for days. Filmed with painstakingly authentic detail in remote Ontario.
9. "Zootopia." Disney isn't exactly known for tackling urgent issues in their family-friendly movies, but this animated film is an exception. It's the story of a bunny rabbit cop (voice of Ginnifer Goodwin) and a con-man fox (Jason Bateman) who team up to solve a mystery. It's also an extended allegory that addresses prejudice, stereotyping, identity and _ if only glancingly _ the role of law enforcement in a just society. Does that sound heavy? It's not. "Zootopia" is a funny, clever buddy comedy with eye-catching animation and endearing characters. It's classic Disney for the modern age.
10. "Everybody Wants Some!!" Richard Linklater's follow-up to "Dazed and Confused," his ode to high school in the 1970s, follows several college baseball players (all played by fresh new faces) during the fall of 1980. It's essentially a fictional documentary about the mores and mindsets of young men in a time before political correctness and identity politics made life so darn complicated. The tone alternates between nostalgia, mockery and heady philosophy. As with most Linklater films _ and this is a high compliment _ it just makes you think.
